Paint brush



P. R. F. DANLEY March 6,1962

' PAINT BRUSH Filed. Feb. 1 1960 INVENTOR. F1 Dani Philip L. BY

United States Patent @ffrce 3,023,439 Patented Mar. 6, 1962 York FiledFeb. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 5,965 8 Claims. (Cl. 15-143) This application isin part a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 843,429,now abandoned, filed September 30, 1959.

My invention relates to paint brushes and has to do more particularlywith an improved construction utilizing a novel hollow handle structure,preferably formed of molded plastic or other suitable material.

For many decades paint brushes have generally followed a more or lessstandard design employing wooden handles to which were attached metalferrules carrying a body of bristles- Such an arrangement was for manyyears considered economical to fabricate and generally satisfactory.

However, with increased labor costs required for the production ofwooden handles and increasing scarcity of wood, it has been consideredhighly desirable to find other materials which might be substituted forthe standard wooden handle. Various materials and constructions havebeen suggested but none has been entirely satisfactory.

In Pettengill patent No. 2,532,780, granted December 5, 1950, it issuggested that a paint brush handle be formed as a hollow casting of asuitable light-weight metal such as magnesium, the handle being attachedto a standard bristle-carrying ferrule by means of an intermediatewooden block for receiving the brads which attach the ferrule to thehandle. Since the issue of that patent the market has seen theappearance of somewhat similar brushes utilizing a synthetic plastichandle in lieu of the metal disclosed by Pettengill, also utilizing awooden block. While brushes of this type represent some advantages ascompared with the standard wooden-handled brush, they nevertheess havenot been an entirely satisfactory solution of the problem because of thenecessary use of an intermediate wooden block to receive the nails orother fastening elements, adding to the cost of materials and labor.

According to my invention I employ in conjunction with a standardbristle-carrying ferrule a hollow handle consisting entirely of plasticor other suitable moldable or castable material which is attacheddirectly to the ferrule without any intermediate block or other suchelement to constitute a brush which is entirely satisfactory for therequired purposes.

A further object of my invention is provision of a paint brush handlewhich, while substantially hollow and preferably formed by casting ormolding, nevertheless, has adequate strength and rigidity throughout,without the need for any supplemental reinforcing element, such as awooden block as referred to above, and which is so designed thataccidental flow of any substantial amount of paint into the interior ofthe handle is substantially prevented.

Referring now to the drawings forming a part of this specification andillustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective exploded view of a paint brush embodying myinvention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the handle alone with parts cut awayand shown in section;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the handle;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 ofFIG. 1 and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line5-5 of FIG. 2.

Numeral 10 represents the brush portion of a paint brush shown explodedin FIG. 1, the handle part being indicated generally by the numeral 12.

The brush portion comprises a body of bristles 15 which may be set attheir extremities in a suitable binder within a ferrule 18 of brass orother suitable sheet metal. It will be understood that the brush portion10 may be of standard or other suitable form and the ferrule 18 may beprovided with a plurality of holes 20 for convenient attachment to thehandle; if desired, these holes may be formed at the time of attachment,as by means of brads, rivets, etc.

The improved handle formed in accordance with my invention is preferablyhollow and molded of a suitable synthetic plastic, such as nylon, aphenol-formaldehyde resin, etc., hard rubber or other suitable materialhaving the desired characteristics of rigidity, hardness, etc. Thehandle portion 12 comprises an elongated grip element or stem 22 and aferrule-engaging sleeve-like portion 25. Portion 25 is so proportionedas to seat snugly within the ferrule 18 and is connected to the gripportion 22 by means of a tapered intermediate neck portion 28 having acontinuous shoulder portion 30 engaging the free edge of ferrule 18. I

Formed integrally in the handle portion 12 is a plurality of lugs orbridges 35 extending in a transverse direction between and connected toopposite sides of ferrule-engaging portion 25, said lugs being ofappreciable width, i.e., having appreciable dimension in a directionacross said ferrule-engaging portion perpendicular to said transversedirection, and having their bases integrally connected to neck portion28 as indicated at 29 in FIG. 2. In the instant case I have shown twobridges 35, but it willbe understood that the number may be varied. Twowill ordinarily be sufficient for my purposes.

In view of the relative hardness of the plastic materials suitabe for mypurpose it is preferable that perforations 38 be formed in the bridges35 at the time of molding the handle portion 12 for the reception offastening elements such as brads or rivets. These perforations, as seenin FIG. 5, may extend entirely through the bridges 35 or may extend onlya relatively short distance from the surface of the bridge into theinterior thereof, of sufiicient depth to receive a fastening element.Because of the appreciable width of the lugs 35, the placement ofperforations therein is not a precision operation and the brads orrivets which are inserted therein interconnect the handle and brusheffectively and securely without possibility of fracture or cracking.

Also preferably molded integrally with the handle is a plurality of webs39 extending transversely of the sleeve 25. Ordinarily, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, a single pair of such transverse webs 39 will beadequate. They are preferably positioned substantially in line with orin continuation of side walls of the stem portion 22 of the handle, ormay be positioned laterally of the projected sides of the stem portion.

It will also be noted that the free edges of webs 39 are substantiallyflush with the bottom edge of sleeve 25.

These Webs 39 perform several functions. They serve not only toreinforce sleeve portion 25 but also perform an additional importantfunction. If the brush is dipped into a body of paint to such depth thatthe ferrule will be submerged, there is a tendency for the liquid toseep past the ferrule and into the handle. Webs 39 serve effectively toprevent such liquid from flowing into the stern portion 22 of thehandle; thus the brush remains light in weight and properly balanced atall times and under all conditions.

In the assembly of my improved brush it is merely necessary to pass theferrule 18 over the seeve 25 of the handle portion until the edge of theferrule engages shoulder 30, whereupon brads or rivets 40 will be driventhrough the ferrule and into the bridges 35. Thus, it will be seen thatthe assembly operation is extremely simple, may be quickly accomplishedby relatively unskilled labor and results in a rugged brush assemblyhaving a light-weight and attractive handle.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art; hence, I do not Wish to belimited to the specific embodiments shown and described or usesmentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of myinvention being limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A paint brush comprising, in combination, a brush part and asubstantially hollow handle part, the brush part comprising a ferruleand a body of bristles mounted therein, the handle part comprising astem portion and a band portion engaging said ferrule and generallyconforming to the contour thereof, lugs of appreciable width integralwith said band portion and disposed in the interior thereof, and meanssecuring the ferrule to the handle part comprising tenuous fastenerspassing through the ferrule into the lugs.

2. A combination ,as in claim 1, wherein the lugs contitute spacedbridges joining opposite sides of the band portion.

3. A combination as in claim 2, having apertures extending at least partway into each of the bridges from the outside thereof, said fastenerspassing through the ferrule and into said apertures.

4. A paint brush comprising, in combination, a brush part and asubstantially hollow molded handle part, the brush part comprising aferrule and a body of bristles mounted therein, the handle partcomprising a stern portion and a band portion engaging said ferrule andgenerally conforming to the contour thereof, lugs integral the stemportion.

with said band portion and disposed in the interior thereof, meanssecuring the ferrule to the handle part comprising tenuous fastenerspassing through the ferrule into the lugs, and integral rigid dam meansextending through said band portion and providing a channel with thestem portion substantially to the free end of the band portion,substantially blocking the flow of liquid therefrom into 5. Acombination as in claim 4, wherein the dam means comprises a pair ofWebs connecting opposite sides of the band portion and disposedgenerally in projection of the Walls of the stem portion.

6. An article as in claim 4, wherein the lugs constitute spaced bridgesjoining opposite sides of the band portion, with apertures extending atleast partway into each of the bridges from the opposite sides thereof,said fasteners passing through the ferrule and into said apertures.

7. A hollow paint brush handle molded of relatively lightweightmaterial, comprising a stem portion and a band portion, said bandportion having integral transverse lugs of appreciable width disposed inthe interior thereof and having apertures therein for the reception oftenuous fasteners. v

8. An article as in claim 7, having integral rigid dam means forming achannel continuous with the stem portion and extending substantially tothe open end of the band portion, so as to prevent the flow of liquidinto the stem portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS SwedenNov. 27, 1956

